Greening the Parish

GREENING THE PARISH
The first stage of the planting took place last week when 45 laurels were planted outside Victory Hall, Villa Road. These plants will, in time, grow into a hedge.

Stanway Parish Council is working with Colchester Borough Council (CBC) and participating in the Colchester Woodland Project, which is in its second of five years. The aim of the project is to plant 200,000 native trees across the borough as part of a move to try and minimise the effects of climate change. An additional benefit will be the pleasing aspect that the trees, especially blossom bearing varieties, will bring to the public realm and to our sense of well-being. All the trees will be native broadleaf species which, if planted in the right location, should live to a good age, grow to a good size and provide valuable habitat for wildlife.

Stanway Parish Council has identified several locations across the parish for this planting, these being the border of the Villa Road playing field along the Homebase side; on Silver Witch Green; and at the Comb Meadow Burial Site.

Stanway Parish Council has now taken delivery of the whips from Colchester Borough Council, and the planting has begun. The planting at Comb Meadow will be to improve the hedging around the perimeter. The planting at the Sports Field, Villa Road, and in the top corner of Silver Witch Green will be in a block formation so the spacing will be 1.5m to 2m between plants - wavy lines are best - nothing will be too straight as we do not want it looking like a plantation! The perimeter planting around Silver Witch Green will be planted closer, about 450mm apart, in staggered rows as the intention is for it to be maintained as more of a hedge than a strip of woodland. The minimum will be two rows, but if we plant three or four rows the better it is for the encouragement of wildlife and of course the environment. Mountain Ash and Lime trees have not yet been delivered but they are on the planting schedule.

Generally, the planting will be informal with no particular pattern as to which species are where, although Oaks will be spaced apart as they will get very large over time. This is good for the environment, and therefore good for the residents of Stanway. The additional planting will help with the improvement of air quality, especially on Silver Witch Green. The idea is to plant hedging down the side of New Farm Road, to help with pollution from the road, and bulk up the hedging, and fill in gaps around the perimeter.

Planting trees is an international programme to assist with the battle against global warming, and help fight carbon emissions. It is very exciting that Stanway is doing its little bit with the greening the parish.

STANWAY IN BLOOM

Over the last 2 years the Parish Council have been working on putting some colour back into Stanway with the Stanway In Bloom project.

Last year around 200 daffodil bulbs were planted which sadly didn't flower so at the end of 2023 Officers and Councillors planted a total of 500 bulbs at Silver Witch Green, Lucy Lane South, Swan Green and the Village Hall. They are high quality bulbs in a mixture of colours which will provide some well need colour around the Village on these grey days. Photo's will be posted as soon as they flower.

We are also to start further wilding the area at the rear of Silver Witch Green and will be planting soft shrubs and small bushes this Spring.